8 Cities and Craighead Co. to Split District Court Fines

The Craighead County Quorum Court approved a resolution that resolves how cities and the county will receive fines and fees from District Court. KASU's Jonathan Reaves reports.

An intergovernmental agreement has been reached that will allow eight cities and Craighead County to each electronically receive monies that have been paid through fines and fees from misdemeanors or other violations that are collected through District Court.

Bay, Bono, Black Oak, Brookland, Caraway, Cash, Egypt, Jonesboro, Lake City, Monette, and Craighead County all have entered into the one year agreement, which states that the cities in which the offense takes place shall receive those funds on a monthly basis.

The agreement would set a prorated rate which takes into account the number of court cases that occur in each town.

The Quorum Court also approved a resolution that would reduce the number of people that are in jail that have mental illnesses. Officials say the “Stepping Up Initiative” is part of a nationwide project that creates plans to help people with treatment.

Justices also tabled a resolution concerning grant money the county receives for different courts. The Finance Committee says they want to review where the money goes and how it will be spent before they approve the grants. That will be discussed March seventh.

Also, Craighead County Circuit Clerk Candace Edwards provided the Quorum Court with an update on the destruction of thousands of juvenile files in the county. Edwards brought the issue before the Court in September, and stated that not reviewing and destroying juvenile files was against state law.

She told the court that over 1,200 files will be destroyed soon, 37 files need to be researched and 187 records are still active.

Edwards says thousands more files are being reviewed and are expected to be destroyed by the end of the year.

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Craighead County’s District Court has millions of dollars of unpaid fines and penalties on the books.

In order to get more people to pay, the Quorum Court’s Finance Committee is recommending the District court look at a 90-day period where those who owe money can pay less than what they owe, or receive a tax credit.

Committee Member Ken Stacks says he thinks the 90-day window would be fair, and it would give those who owe an incentive to pay.